News about agriculture in New York State and information farmers and consumers can use in their daily lives.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Dairy Day Celebrated at the State Capitol

Dairy Day at the State Capitol. From left, Chip Pratt, Aileen Randolph of the New York Farm Viability Institute, Sen. Patty Ritchie, and David
Grusenmeyer of the New York Farm Viability Institute

State Sen.
Patty Ritchie, chair of the state Senate Agriculture Committee, welcomed dairy industry leaders to the State Capitol Wednesday
for “Dairy Day,” a celebration of one of New York’s leading industries.

The event,
which is taking place during National Dairy Month, was once a tradition in
Albany, and this year, Senator Ritchie, who chairs the Senate Agriculture
Committee, joined with Assemblyman Bill Magee, who chairs the Assembly
Agriculture Committee, to sponsor its return.

“As Chair of
the Senate Agriculture Committee, and someone who grew up on a dairy farm, I’m
proud to sponsor the return of Dairy Day at the State Capitol,” said Ritchie. “This is a
great chance to spread the word to my colleagues, as well as visitors about how
important dairy is to our agriculture and rural economies—especially in the
rural regions I represent.”

On hand for
Wednesday’s celebration were producers of dairy products — including milk,
yogurt, cheese and others — from across the state, as well as representatives of
various agriculture groups that help support the industry.

Established in
1937, National Dairy Month started out as “National Milk Month,” an event held
to promote drinking milk. Since that time, the observance has grown into
an annual tradition that helps to celebrate our state’s 5,000 dairy farms and
all the fresh, nutritious foods and drink they produce.